The Bit At The Front (TBATF)

By Will Watts

Yes, I know this issue is late, but this time it's not really my fault! You may recall my mentioning in EUG #3 that we were going to have to look elsewhere to get the mag photocopied? Well, we looked and looked and...it seems the recession has hit the printing trade hard!

Only to be expected I suppose. The more companies that go to the wall, the less business is generated for 'service' industries like printers/photocopiers. Last year The Thompson Directory for the Basildon area had a long list of companies offering a photocopy service. This year the number has been greatly reduced.

After many telephone calls I thought I'd found one that would be suitable in that they were willing to undertake work on a modest scale, i.e. hundreds of copies rather than thousands. All seemed well! "I'll be in touch," I said.

Imagine my surprise when, a few days later, I was quoted a price of nine pence + VAT per 1000 sheets of double-sided A4!! This takes the price over that quoted by the public library!

There was nothing for it but to try the last few numbers listed in Thompsons. Then I got lucky. I phoned a company and was told that they only did photocopy machine repairs and was about to ring off when the receptionist said "Wait a moment", and went off for a chat with someone in the office.

A gent came on the line and I told him what I wanted. When he heard about the 9p (+VAT) quote he scoffed in disbelief. "We can better that," he said! So it looks as though we've struck gold!

Of course, we've got to live in the real world now, and make every page count! That's why we've resorted to the A5 format you're holding now. But even this economy isn't enough as EUG expands and we get more contributions filling more pages. Take a deep breath. Future issues will now cost... £1.30 (including P&P).

Sorry about this, but it can't be helped. Well, that's the bad news. The good news is that while we haven't exactly been swamped with contributions, they are starting to arrive in a fairly steady stream and others have also promised to send their pearls of wit and wisdom in the future. But don't just be a reader, be a contributor and join in!

At this point I must say a huge multicoloured "Thank You!" to our very own Derek Walker who printed these pages in the first place! Without his help this issue could not have appeared! (It's like the "Oscar" award ceremony innit?!!)

And now may I direct your attention to the rest of this issue? This way if you please...